Sarah's style blog

So, I'm pretty much in love with Urban Outfitters and Etsy right now. I go through phases, I suppose. Sometimes Anthropologie and I are inseparable, as I love their ethnic, yet uber-feminine look. However, their prices give my wallet big owies, and Urban Outfitters has been having some incredible sales right now.

If someone asked me what my current style was, I'd probably say it was Boho/J-fashion. I'm digging the long, loose tunics and sack/slouch dresses, layered with with cropped jackets, colorful scarves, and leggings. Another big influence for me right now, is the adorable French fashion blogger over at The Cherry Blossom Girl. She incorporate such sweet, vintage looks with a modern flair. Love, love, love.

Steampunk is another concept I currently find fascinating. I'm intrigued by the idea of using antique watch parts, sprockets, and tiny gears in order to create intricate, sci-fi-meets-Victorian looks. One of my favorite artists and style gurus, Aimee Major-Steinberger, recently did an incredible Steampunk photoshoot and the details of the costumes blew my mind! Thus inspired, I've been checking out Steampunk-themed jewelry on Etsy and ebay, and came away with a few amazing pieces that I'll be happy to share when they arrive ;)

Last, but not least, the fruits of my sale-hunting labors. Working right next to Bridgeport, you better believe I stalk those Urban Outfitters/Anthropologie sales like nobody's business. Yay for $19.99 tunics and sweaters!









And here I am wearing a recent acquisition (don't mind the copious amounts of mess in the background!)

Yay, Halloween! :D

I love me some Halloween. Any excuse to dress up, really. I can't show off this year's ensemble until Friday, but let's take a look at some of my previous costumes!





Kayako, from "The Grudge"




...and Sarah Michelle Gellar's character, Karen Davis, from the same film (Kayako is lovingly portrayed by Kelly in these pictures ;) )




Inuyasha's Kikyo


Eowyn from Lord of the Rings


Girl-type Ranma


Kagome (right) to Kelly's Inuyasha


And last, but not least, my high school french maid costume! Old school ;)

(Sadly, not pictured are Yuna , Princess Leia, and Gryffindor student)

Cue the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth

Bye bye, David


But WHHHHHHYYYYYYY? I can't imagine having to get used to another Doctor! I know I've said it before and moved on just fine, but "Doctor Who" without David Tennant is like black coffee without my fun cinnamon vanilla creamer :(

Thriller

Did you know it was recently World Zombie Day? Check out the Thriller fans in Seattle and the awesome routine they did to celebrate! Prom Queen zombie and Belly Dancer zombie were my favorite-- see if you can spot them, along with Michael Jackson himself!

Let's do this thing

In the next two weeks, I'll be gearing up for this year's NaNoWriMo. I kicked it's butt last year and I'm keen on doing it again! My poor, neglected novel has undergone some revisions and a drastic change of plot over the last few months, and now it's time to get down and dirty (figuratively speaking, of course)!

That's right, being a NaNoWriMo author = serious business ;) I say bring it on!

Playing dress-up

Tonight, my step-mother and I had a fun Victorian-esque photo shoot to get ready for the upcoming holiday season. The bustle skirt pictured was custom made for me by the very talented Solanah, a local Portland seamstress and artist. If you're interested in learning more about her or my photographer, Patricia Zeleny, feel free to comment with questions! ;)

Dream moods

While I don't put too much stock in the controversial psychology of dreams, I do feel that the images our unconscious spews up during sleep often represents something primal about ourselves.

Take, for example, the one I had last night:

I dreamt that I left the Tenth Doctor wounded somewhere and was trying to go fetch something important that we needed, as well as get help. It wasn’t though I left him willingly; I was meant to go do this little mission quickly and in his condition he couldn't join me. There was some sort of monster in this dream which was causing great holes to appear in the earth, and I was afraid that one of us might get sucked into one.

Though I tried to hurry, I kept running into people I knew (old friends and acquaintances from the past) who were distracting and, unintentionally, trying to slow me down. I kept repeating that I had to get back to the Doctor, whom I knew was waiting for me and possibly in peril. Once again on my way back to him, I came across an uncanny number of snakes as I was trying to climb some rocks, which caused me to hesitate with fear. When my alarm clock went off shortly after, I still hadn’t found the Doctor.

Here's what Dream Moods had to say about some of the things in my dream:

Search
To dream that you are searching for something, signifies the need to find something that is missing or needed in your life. You may be searching for a solution to a problem.


Hurry
To dream that you are in a hurry, suggests that may be unprepared for a situation. There is a lack in your planning of things. Alternatively, you may be feeling out of place. This dream may also be a literal reflection of your daily life where you feel that you are always in a rush and that there is not enough time to do all the things you want to do. The dream may occur due to this type of stress.


Waiting
To dream that you are waiting, is indicative of issues of power/control and feelings of dependence/independence, especially in a relationship. Consider how you feel in the dream while you were waiting. If you are patient, then you know things will happen at their own pace. If you are impatient, then it may mean that you are being too demanding or that your expectations are too high.
Alternatively, the dream may denote your expectations and anxieties about some unknown situation or decision. There is a sense of anticipation. You are ready to take action.


Alone
To dream that you are alone, indicates feelings of rejection. You may be feeling that no one understand you.


Monster
To dream that you are followed by a monster, signifies that grief and misfortune are in your immediate future. Monsters represent parts of yourself that you find brutish and ugly. You may possess some fears or some repressed emotions.


Hole
To see a hole in the ground, denotes hidden aspects of your activities. On the other hand, it may mean that you are feeling hollow or empty inside. This dream may be an awakening for you in that you need to get out and expose your self to new interests and activities.
To dream that you fall into a hole, signifies a pitfall in a situation in your life or that you are stuck in a hole. Perhaps, you have dug yourself into a hole and can not get out of it.


Quest
To dream that you are on a quest, indicates that the path toward achieving your goals may be a difficult and scary one. However it is necessary for growth and progress.


Snake
To see a snake or be bitten by one in your dream, signifies hidden fears and worries that are threatening you. Your dream may be alerting you to something in your waking life that you are not aware of or that has not yet surfaced. The snake may also refer to a person around you who is callous, ruthless, and can't be trusted. As a positive symbol, snakes represent transformation, knowledge and wisdom. It is indicative of self-renewal and positive changes.


Friend
To see your childhood friend in your dream, signifies regression into your past where you had no responsibilities and things were much simpler and carefree. You may be wanting to escape the pressures and stresses of adulthood. Consider the relationship you had with this friend and the lessons that were learned. Alternatively, the childhood friend may be suggesting that you have been acting in a childish manner and you need to start acting like an adult.



Hmmm...

Oh Etsy, I love you

The homemade online marketplace Etsy is my new obsession. Anything, anything one could ever want, you can find custom-made on this fantastic website. Think of the gorgeous, original wares of Anthropologie... you can find the same unique items on here! Even better, you're supporting artists from all over the world ;)

Here are a few of my favorite pretties...


A Steampunk inspired necklace called, "Space and Time" (so fitting, don't you think, for the girl who adores her time and space hopping Doctor?)



A modern take on the Victorian bustle skirt


A pair of lovely plum-colored arm warmers

I'm astounded at the talent of some of these artists. It makes me feel as though I'm lacking considerably in creativity!

Lulz

Thank you, internet, for combining two of my favorite things: Star Wars and Japan ;)

Autumn in Japan

Whenever the seasons change, I can't help but remember what they brought for me when I lived in Japan. Autumn and spring were my favorite times of year there, especially the latter. A true Japanese autumn, at least in Kansai, doesn't begin until around November. When it hits, it's best to head to Kyoto to view the spectacular leaves, which in their prime boast of such brilliant scarlets, oranges, and golds, that the hilltops look like forests of fire. Fall also means eating yakiimo and laying into steaming pots of nabe. Parasols are exchanged for scarves, gloves, and boots, and strangely enough skirt lengths seem to get shorter. Perhaps in an effort to show off those new boots?

My first autumn in Kyoto:









Parts of the traditional cuisine change as well, as everything is seasonal. Wagashi might take on the shape of a leaf, and bento boxes often have a fall theme. I confess myself fascinated by bento lunches. Especially when they're cute and have fun shapes! I even have my own little bento box and wrapping scarf that I purchased from Loft, one of my favorite Japanese depato. I have yet to pack my own nifty, seasonal lunch, probably because I still cling to the memory of the delicious ones I used to buy from the restaurant nextdoor to my school. For more on bento lunches, check out this community group on livejournal. I love seeing people share their enthusiasm for Japanese culture!


Another part of Japanese autumn is moon viewing. According to Asian folklore, there is a Tsuki no Usagi (or Moon Rabbit), and it's possible to catch a glimpse of this lunar bunny during Tsukimi or "jugoya" (which literally means the fifteenth night). Tsukimi is a moon viewing festival that usually takes place in mid-September and is celebrated with poetry, special dango, and sake. It's such a part of Japanese culture, that it has become pop culture too! Visiting my local Sannomiya Starbucks one day, I happened upon a purple mug with the Tsuki no Usagi on its handle. Naturally, it came home with me to America ;)

Halloween is a very Western concept for most Japanese, but it is slowly gaining some ground in the bigger cities. Last October, I was perusing the aisles of Loft with my friend and former student, Hitomi, when we spotted a large Halloween display. It had spooky masks, witches hats, a few costumes, and tons of candy. Televisions blasting a Halloween music video, set in a graveyard to Western music, blared nearby. We were both highly amused.


Hitomi models what the trendy witches were wearing that season ^^


My old flatmate, Rebecca, shows off the Halloween mask that came with our pumpkin pocky

In short, autumn is an ideal time for visiting Japan. The real chill of winter doesn't set in until mid-December, so October and November are very pleasant months!

If I let myself, I could be heartsick over homesickness for Japan. I find that posting entries like this helps with that. Thanks for tagging along, dear readers ;)

Wishing you were somehow here again

So far, I've spent my rainy Saturday hanging around the house, catching up on some much needed rest and relaxation. Did a few loads of laundry, cleaned up my room, browsed YouTube (I'm addicted to that site), watched a movie, and edited a few photos with Adobe. Sort of anti-climatic if you consider how busy I was last weekend and the weekend before, but that's fine by me!

Here are a few photos from our day in Seattle last Sunday (oh, to be in Washington watching "Phantom" again!).


Pike's Place


The famous fish-tossing marketplace


Some of the gorgeous floral wares being sold at Pike's Place Market


The Harbor at sunset

On Friday, I traded a couple of e-mails with the charming D.C. Anderson, whom I was to shy to introduce myself to last weekend. I realized a few nights ago, that I've been watching him in "Phantom" for years! He's been touring with the cast the last several times I've seen the show, and first joined the cast in 1989. Very cool ;)

Just finished putting the last touches on my Halloween costume today, and am super excited for our Ignite Halloween party. If Pat and Dad have time, I'm hoping they can get a few high-quality shots of it and the awesome prop I just ordered. Dying of curiosity? Too bad! You'll have to wait for Halloween!

In other news, I'm making a renewed effort to get back on track with my novel. With November Novel Writing Month coming up, I'm determined to work out a writing schedule that will force inspire me to start putting down a couple thousand words a night. Here's hoping!

I'll leave you with my latest gleeful YouTube find: check out Korean Phantom and Christine! I've never heard a Christine hit those high notes quite like that-- such a smooth vibrato! The woman has a voice like clear glass. And this Phantom is fantastic too. Watch for the part when he slicks his hair back in ecstasy! *giggle*

Once upon a time...

...there was a girl who loved make-believe. In fact, she never really grew out of it. When she was a child, there was fairy stories, Disney movies, and goblin kings. Yet, when the time came for the girl to become an adult and forget such frivolity, she found she just couldn't let go. Her imagination simply wouldn't allow it. And so, she found a socially acceptable way to channel her fanciful love of fantasy and magic-- into theatre.

When she was nineteen-years-old, she discovered Broadway plays for the first time, and for a long while after super heroes, glass slippers, and mist shrouded castles were forgotten, all in favor of a mysterious man in a dark cloak and haunting white mask.

The girl moved onto to other shows and musicals, but never forgot the winding labyrinth beneath the Paris Opera House, the shimmering, sweet voice of its young ingenue, or the masked stranger who so desperately loved her.

Many years later, after numerous other theatre experiences both at home and abroad, she returned to her home theatre, eager to fall under the Phantom's spell once more. There had always been powerful, beautiful voices filling the role, but this performance was different. Had the wandering and travel-weary girl changed or was this actor, this Phantom more special than the others? The answer, simply, is both. When the Phantom's voice filled the corners of the auditorium, there were chills of delight; a sense of homecoming in the familiar and breathless awe. He was brilliant and tragic, furious and frightening. And completely wonderful. The girl was quite willingly transported.

After the show, she was so moved that she thought perhaps she would tell him so. She wrote him a letter, thanking him for his poignant and affecting performance, and sent her playbill for him to sign. He was traveling with the show to Seattle; it was entirely possible he wouldn't receive it. She promised herself that she wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't.

However, a week and a half later, an envelope arrived most unexpectedly-- mailed from Seattle. It contained her program, signed with a flourish, and a letter, which read:

Dear Sarah,

You wrote a very descriptive and intelligent letter. I'm wondering if you would write the same letter to my director Hal Prince in New York. His address is: [insert address here].

He felt like he was taking a chance on me... So letters of support are a good thing.

Thanks,

Stephen Tewksbury


Inside the playbill, was another note: Thank you for your kind words Sarah. I'm so glad I got to perform for you! Stephen Tewksbury

Dutifully, she wrote, somewhat naively, to this very, very important director in NYC and expected that to be the end of it. Fate, in the form of discounted tickets for a matinee showing in Seattle, intervened. The girl was ecstatic at the opportunity to see her beloved show one more time, and pleased to be sharing the experience with her sisters. She also, not-so-secretly, hoped for the chance to meet her Phantom in person.

When the day of the show arrived, the three sisters made the three and a half hour trip to Seattle, arriving, most unfortunately, twenty minutes late. The girl was bitterly disappointed. She had planned to slip him a silly, earnest note with the help of the stage doorman before the show began. Now, it seemed, it was too late. A sympathetic usher advised her to give the little slip of paper to the doormen, who could in turn hand it over to the house manager for delivery. It was a long shot, but perhaps it would work.

After the marvelous performance, the girl dragged her obliging sisters to the stage door and felt her heart skip around inside her chest as they waited. Sometimes actors did not emerge after a matinee showing, preferring to quietly take their ease between shows. The waiting time seemed to drag...her sisters shuffled their feet, but did not complain. Would he come?

Happily, he did come. Even more happily, he was kind, funny, and entirely charming. He chatted, he posed for pictures, he threw his arms around the girl and her sisters. The girl was more touched than she could say. Her Phantom thanked them, threw a final smile over his shoulder, and strode off. The girl swore to pin the memory to words and the words to paper to remember it always. And now she has ;)


Stephen Tewksbury and I


Valen, Stephen, me, and Carrie


And lest it be forgot, the sisters three also met Christine Daae (the impeccable Trista Moldovan)


...as well as a large, brass pig.


The End